3 semester credits

Healthcare professionals often rely on research to make informed decisions on critical issues affecting programs, policy, and practice. In this course, students examine the logic underlying scientific research; study design; sampling; identification of variables; methods of data collection and analysis; concepts in measurement, including reliability and validity; program evaluation; and research ethics. They explore numeric methods for data description; the Donabedian model of program evaluation; data modeling and research; data mining; and information system assessment. Through statistics software exercises, students learn basic research methods, strategies, and skills for presentation of research results; they also become familiar with statistical software used to support research.

Note: There is a special technology requirement for this course for accessing required interactive tutorials. PC: Students using a PC platform must have a minimum of Windows 2000, Internet Explorer 6.0, and 1GB of RAM. Mac: Students using a Mac platform must have a minimum of an Intel® Mac with OS X version 10.4.11, 1GB of RAM, and Windows 2000. Mac users who do not already have Windows 2000 on their Macs must purchase one or two Mac add-ons from an outside vendor to access the interactive tutorials. For details on which adds-ons to purchase and how to purchase them at discount pricing, please contact a member of Walden's Customer Care Team at 1-800-925-3368 or 1-612-925-3368, option 2.